Merits and Blessings
'Cultivating for blessings and not wisdom,
Is like the elephant covered with dust;
Cultivating for wisdom and not blessings,
Will bring the Arhat little contribution.'
This gatha illustrates the importance of the 'twin cultivation of blessings and merits'. In the past, when the Buddha was cultivating in the 'causative state', he had experienced many kalpas of this 'twin cultivation' before he accomplished the Buddha Way. This was the reason for the constant advice he gave his disciples in their attempt to follow his footsteps in cultivation.
One day, the Buddha told his followers:" If 'one method' is being adhered to firmly, the Maras will have no chance to disrupt."
" What is the 'one method'?" They asked.
" The 'one method' is the cultivation of merits and blessings."
The Buddha carried on:" I still remember the time when Mara led his multitude of armies that appeared in myriad strange forms to harass me during my meditation under the Bodhi tree. Mara said to me then:' Sramana! Surrender to me and be my follower!' Relying on the power of my merits, however, I conquered them all and banished all defilements to attain supreme and equanimous enlightenment. You should deliberate on the wondrous implication of this. Those with all round merits will not be easily jeopardised in their cultivation by Mara."
The Buddha then said a gatha:
'Happy are those with blessings, torment for those without.
For the present and future, only those with blessings will have joy.'
Finally, the Buddha reminded them:" Bikshus! Do not get tired of cultivating for blessings."[ Merits and blessings are provisions in the Way of cultivation. Therefore Buddhist followers would never consider any act conducive to blessings too trivial. Wholesome blessings are the result of cumulative blessings accrued through numerous good deeds.]
